‘New Plastics Economy Global Commitment’, NPEGC, is the collective effort on a planetary scale, promoted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The vision of a’circular economy,
aimed at progressively reducing the waste destination of
plastic
. Or perhaps, just greenwashing.
‘
New Plastics Economy Global Commitment’
, the participants
The NPEGC document expresses the vision of a circular economy for plastics at the planetary level. Through a commitment signed by 285 organizations representing operators in the ‘from factory to landfill‘ supply chain and associations with various interests.
Commitment is expressed from the beginning, it should be noted, in terms of ‘commitment‘ and not ‘engagement‘. That is, in terms of adherence to the overall goals, and not yet involvement in the concrete implementation of means suitable for the purposes. Nevertheless, the initiative is useful, indeed necessary, and deserves attention pending verification and measurement of its development.
Industrial giants expressing 20 percent of global plastic packaging production (e.g., Amcor) are joining the initiative. And some raw material producers, including Novamont, Borealis. As well as waste management groups such as Veolia or the Italian group Hera.
Large users of plastic packaging in ‘Fast Moving Consumers Goods‘ (FMCG) are also present, with the global Big Food brands (e.g., Danone, Unilever, Mars, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company). And those in other industries, such as L’Oréal and H&M.
Among the
stakeholders
most prominent include CEFLEX(China Plastics Reuse and Recycling Association), EPRO(European Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organization), Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE). And some 40 researchers and academic institutions, including the Universities of Pavia, Bocconi and Milan Polytechnic.
WWF(World Wide Fund for Nature), World Economic Forum and Consumer Goods Forum (an organization representing some 400 retailers and manufacturers from 70 countries) in turn support the ‘Global Commitment.
Big finance is also present. Some 15 financial institutions, which manage more than US$2.5 trillion (i.e., trillions), have established five venture capital funds. With an initial allocation of $200 million, to foster the development of a circular economy for plastics.
‘
New Plastics Economy Global Commitment’
, goals
The initiative aspires to develop a new paradigm for plastic packaging management. Defining goals subject to periodic updating, every 18 months.
Three general objectives are defined in principle by the NPEGC:
1) elimination
of ‘problematic’ or ‘unnecessary’ plastic packaging, moving from single-use
to reusable packaging models,
2) innovation aimed at ensuring that all plastic packaging can be reused, recycled or composted by 2025,
3) Circularity of use of plastics, to be fostered by significantly increasing the share of reused or regenerated materials in new products.
In detail, these objectives are declined in relation to the activities carried out by the different actors, governments and ‘endorsers‘ (associations and academic institutions):
– packaging manufacturers and users, including distributors and Horeca (Hotel, Restaurant, Catering) operators, are required to eliminate all ‘problematic’ and ‘unnecessary’ plastic packaging by 2025. As well as implementing measures to shift from single-use to reuse so that all packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable,
– recyclers need to increase the quantity and quality of recycled plastics by increasing the ratio of the fraction going for recycling to that allocated to landfill or incinerator,
– producers of primary materials
e
need to define targets in terms of the minimum share of regenerated resins. In the case of bioplastics, achieve at least 75% renewable.
Signatory governments are asked to make a 5-point commitment:
– Stimulate the elimination of problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and products,
– Encourage reuse patterns where relevant, to reduce the need for single-use plastics in packaging and products,
– Encourage the use of reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic packaging,
– Increase collection, sorting, reuse and recycling rates. Facilitating the creation of the necessary infrastructure,
– Stimulate demand for recycled plastics.
‘
New Plastics Economy Global Commitment’
, what reliability?
The mega-truck lends itself well to covering the backs of the planet’s great poisoners. Who can entrench themselves behind the cloak of ‘global commitment‘ to negotiate compromises on the application of stricter rules than voluntarily agreed upon standards. A classic strategy of screen and lobby.
It is therefore necessary to analyze
The suitability of the objectives with respect to current environmental and health protection needs
. Checking the relevance of the commitments, compared to the targets set, and especially any gaps (
gap analysis
).
Data transparency is the only card on which the reliability of the system is actually played. Since the entities signing the commitment are obligated to publish annual reports on what they have accomplished, the relevance of the data will have to be analyzed. To avoid the replication of global antics such as RSPO and(in)sustainable palm oil.
Now meanwhile,
Greenpeace
complaint
, the giants of the
Fast Moving Consumers Goods
continue to increase the use of single-use plastics, whose recycling rate is still less than 10 percent. The waste collected by Greenpeace Italy in seven Italian beaches show that about 80 percent of the plastic found is attributable to brands such as Ferrero, Nestlé, Haribo, Unilever, Coca Cola, and San Benedetto.
Dario Dongo and Luca Foltran
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Expert in packaging and materials intended to come into contact with food substances and related legislative changes. He manages the information site foodcontactmaterials.info on European and extra-European regulations in the field of materials intended for contact with food.
